THE creation of a new super-college in Coventry has moved a step closer following the end of the consultation process.

No significant opposition has been registered to plans to merge Coventry Technical College and Tile Hill College.

Formal arrangements have already been agreed for the new college, which will have a base on both sites and will boast about 20,000 full-time and part-time students.

It will be the biggest college in Coventry and Warwickshire and will have an annual turnover of about #23 million.

A joint executive has been set up to plan the merger, made up of senior managers from both colleges, led by Paul Taylor, pictured, principal of the Tile Hill Lane college.

A formal one-month consultation ended last week, which was open to all individuals and companies affected by the proposal.

Mr Taylor, who would be principal of the new super-college, said: "There has been about 20 responses from organisations and the response to the consultation has been generally favourable.

"Progress continues to be made towards the merger of the two colleges but there is still a long way to go."

Governors of the two colleges are expected to discuss the consultation this week and it is expected to be discussed by the Learning and Skills Council - responsible for all post-16 education - at the end of October.

Management at both colleges have pledged that all courses will continue as normal next year and believe job losses will not be an issue.